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Mother of Pedro Menendez senior, 19, says son did not start fight that led to his death

An early Saturday bonfire party and brawl fueled by alcohol in a wooded area in Mandarin ended when a St. Augustine 19-year-old was beaten to death.

But the same day police discussed Ryan Scott Ford’s death in the 14500 block of Old St. Augustine Road and the arrest of two Jacksonville men, his parents want people to remember their son as a good, even “awesome” man.

Ford’s family members assembled at their St. Augustine home Monday to talk with reporters. Sister Kristi Scott said she was at the gathering but didn’t arrive with her brother.

Father Wade “Bubba” Ford said his son “was her protector” and “always just a happy kid.”

Although 6-foot-1 and a little more than 200 pounds, Ryan Ford was not known as a someone looking for fights, said longtime friend Alden Kacer.

Ford’s mother, Linda Ford, also said her son “did not instigate a fight.”

No one discussed what led to the fights, but charged were 25-year-old Christopher Scott Hoffman of Rudin Street and 22-year-old Robert Lloyd Cline II of Beaubien Road. Hoffman, who’s listed as 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, remains jailed on $50,000 bail on a manslaughter charge, according to jail records. Cline, who’s listed as 5-foot-8 and 250 pounds, was charged with battery and released from on $2,500 bail.

At least 50 people were at the wooded party site near a JEA power line at the northeast corner of Old St. Augustine Road and Interstate 95, a popular place to “drink and party” in the past, Lt. Rob Schoonover said. The party was posted on Facebook a week prior.

Cline is accused of hitting Ford first and Hoffman taking over after that, Schoonover said.

Once Ford fell down, “he continued to beat him with his fists unconscious,” Schoonover said of Hoffman. “... It wasn’t just one group against another. Our victim was apparently struck, kind of blind-sided.”

Ford’s mother would not comment of the incident that led to her son’s death, other than to say, “He did not instigate a fight.”

A ‘free spirit’

Ford, known by his nickname of “Wildwood,” was known for always having fun or working on vehicles, according to his Facebook memorial site.

“He was definitely a free spirit and will forever remain in the minds and hearts of all those lucky enough to know him,” the Facebook site says.

Schoonover said the 56-acre property was posted with “No Trespassing” signs at one time, but not now. The property owner is listed as Philip B. Genovar of St. Augustine, according to the Duval County property appraiser’s website. A message left at his home was not returned.

Police have been called there before for truancy and other incidents, Schoonover said, but “nothing to this magnitude.”

The lieutenant said police would like to talk with more witnesses who were at the party.

“He was my life,” Ford’s mother added. “... He was just awesome. He loved me and I loved him, and we knew it. We were tight. Never no doubt.”

Ryan was not known as a someone looking for fights.

“He’s not that kind of person,” said Alden Kacer, a longtime friend.

The Ryan his friends and family knew was a teenager who was fun to be around and made friends quickly.

“He was always just a happy kid, never seen him sad,” his dad said.

Loved his truck

Ryan was easily recognizable for his blue Ford F-150 pickup truck.

His mother said it was a point of pride when his peers at Pedro Menendez High School voted it the Truck of the Year. It wasn’t even close to new as a 1993 model and was probably a greater reflection of Ryan’s popularity than that of the truck.

Ryan’s parents and friends agreed that he didn’t enjoy school too much because there were so many other things the Menendez senior would rather be doing.

He was a person who loved working on trucks, lawn mowers, boats or nearly anything else.

Kacer laughed as he talked about Ryan’s love to tinker with the truck.

“He always had a different set of tires on it,” he said.

Linda said she was sometimes annoyed at hearing Ryan’s truck drive by her window at the wee hours of the morning — most likely on his way to get more firewood.

“I’m going to miss them days,” she said.

Reporter Stuart Korfhage with The St. Augustine Record contributed to this story.

Witnesses

Anyone with information about the Saturday attack that led to Ryan Scott Ford’s death can call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and possibly receive a reward, people can contact CrimeStoppers at (866) 845-8477 (TIPS).

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Do the right thing and tell the police what you saw and heard. Maybe you will be in trouble for being there, when you had promised someone you wouldn't. But that is not the issue now. A young man has died. You know what happened. Take responsibility for your actions, and have those who acted take responsibility for their actions. It will make looking in the mirror much easier to do for the rest of your life.